Improvement in apparatus for spreading plasters



N. WO0D.

improvement in Apparatus for Spreading Plasters.

No.132,614. Patented0c t.29,187.,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

NATHAN WOOD, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT m APPARATUS FOR SPREADING PLASTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,614, dated October 29, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN W001), of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Spreading Plasters; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is hereby made a part of this specification, in Whicl1 Figure 1 is a top view of my invention with the follower turned back to show the under side thereof. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same with the follower turned back, the section being taken upon the line a: .90, showing a portion of the platen, the follower, and the lamp designed for heating. Fig. 3 is a side view of same.

Same letters show'like parts.

The object of my invention is to produce a convenient and expeditious means for spreading a previously prepared medicinal or other adhesive matter upon leather, cloth, paper, rubber, or other fabric or material upon which they are used for applying them to the person. By the use of my invention a narrow margin. around the plaster is kept from being covered by the fluid adhesive matter which is used in the making of plasters.

My invention consistsof the fire-box a, into which is introduced a spirit-lamp, b, for the purpose of imparting the necessary degree of heat to the whole device, to keep the adhesive matter in a state of fluidity while being applied to the leather or other material upon which it may be spread. This fire-box a has upon one of its sides the hinged door (I, so that the burnin g lamp may be introduced, as desired. Upon the top of the fire-box is the table 0, which table has in its center the platen f. This platen f projects a little above the surface of the surrounding table, and is of the size which it is intended that the adhesive part of the plaster shall have. At one end of the table is hinged the follower g, the hinges of which should have projections upon them to support the lid or follower partially upright when thrown back. This follower has in its center the orifice h, of such size as to fit around the platen very closely with the shoulder i, so that one part of the thickness of the follower fits around the edge of the platen f, while another portion of said thickness, but which should be quite thin, covers a small portion all around the edge of the platen. The size of the platen f and the orifice h in the follower determines the size of the plaster, and may be varied to produce plasters of different sizes. As has been remarked a spirit-lamp (or other heat) is necessary to keep the matter used in a proper degree of fluidity, so. also all the herein-described apparatus must be made of iron or other similar material, in order to properly retain the heat; and I particularly claim such use of the iron or other metal as avery necessary part of. my invention.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The leather or other material upon which the adhesive matter is to be spread must first be cut of the required size. They are then placed upon the platen fin such a manner that all the edges shall be held under the projection of the follower; the follower g being shut down upon the platen f, the leather being held in the described position, and the adhesive matter applied in any most convenient manner to the part left uncovered by the follower.

By the different parts being kept at a high temperature, and being composed of material capable of retaining heat, the adhesive matter is kept fluid or semi-fluid, and the plasters can thus be handled very readily and quickly. When thus covered with the adhesive matter upon the part left uncovered by the follower the plaster is removed and another is substituted, and so on, as long as desired.

I am aware that different devices have been used for this purpose, but none, so far as I am aware, in the form or composed of such material as I herein propose.

I have found the use of heat to be of great practical value when used in a machine such as herein described, and this I claim specially as a part of my invention, because when any apparatus is used cold the adhesive matter very soon hardens, making the employment of a knife or some similar instrument necessary to remove the plaster, involving much more time and loss in tearing the plaster than when my apparatus is used, for then the plaster remains upon the platen, and the edges remain smooth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The box to contain fire, combined with the metallic top and lid, as shown, all in the manner and for the purpose as herein set forth.

Witnesses: NATHAN WOOD;

D. W. SGRIBNER,

F. E. J 01mm. 

